Flower-pot support



(No Model\ W. D. GRIDLEY. FLOWER POTSUPPORT.

No. 585,931. Patented July 6, 1897.

no" wwwm-on u c NlTED STATES PATENT r FFlCE.

WILMER D. GRIDLEY, OF BROOKLYN, NEXV YORK.

FLOWER-POT S U PPO RT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 585,931, dated July 6, 1897.

Application filed March 30, 1897. Serial No. 629,884. (No model.)

of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Flower-Pot Supports, of

which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in flower-pot supports whereby the said supports may be easily and safely moved into different positions, and also relates to certain improvements in the devices for removably securing the pot to its flange or ring, the said flange or ring to the supporting cup or pan, and the supporting cup or pan to the upright.

The object of my invention is to produce a device in which the several operations above mentioned may be readily carried out in a very simple, neat, and effective manner.

A practical embodiment of my invention is represented in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a side View of the support, a flower-pot being represented in position therein and the handle for dragging or pushing the support being also represented as applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a vertical central section through the same. Fig. 3 is a top plan view, the handle being removed in this View. Fig. l is a top plan view of the stationary base-plate of the support. Fig. 5 is a side View of the lower portion of the handle, and Fig. 6 is a top plan View of the lower portion of the handle.

The flower-pot is represented by A. The circular flange or ring to which it is removably secured is represented by B, and the supporting pan or saucer to which the ring B is adapted to be removably secured is denoted by O. The upright upon which the supporting-pan O is mounted is denoted by D, its base by E, and the stationary base-plate within which the movable base E is adapted to be supported by F.

The ring or circular flange B is represented in theaccompanying drawings as consisting of an annular upwardly-extended rim (9, having cross-pieces 1), extending diametrically across between its lower edges, the said cross pieces or bars forminga suitable support for the bottom of the flower-pot A.

The device for removably attaching the flower-pot A to the ring 13 consists of a suitable screw G, which passes upwardly through the center of the ring B, and when the said screw is screwed home extends upwardly into the interior of the flower-pot A through its bottom opening Ct. A key g, having laterally-extended portions g 9 is adapted to have a screw-threaded engagement with the said screw G after the said key has been inserted up into the flower-pot A through its bottom opening a and its laterally-extended portions g g caused to overlap the edges of the said opening a. It will thus be seen that the said flower-pot may be secured to or released from the ring B without removing the dirt within the pot or in any waydisturbing the roots of any plant which the pot may contain.

The flowerpot-supporting pan or cup *0 consists of an upwardly-extended annular rim 0, having a water-tight bottom 0, the said bottom 0 having ahollow cylindrical lug orprojection 0 extended downwardly from its center for embracing the top of the upright D, for mounting the said pan 0 upon the upright. The pan C is further provided with a drip-openin g c in its bottom, which opening may be closed byany suitable cap 0 "When it is desired to draw off the water which may have accumlated in the pan, the cap 0 may be removed and the water released through the drip-opening 0 without in any way disturbing the pot and its ring.

The pot-supporting ring is removably secured to the cup or pan 0 in the following manner: The cup or pan is provided with a pair of overlappinglugs 0 located diametrically opposite each other, one or both of the said lugs being provided with a downwardlyinclined upper face a. In the present instance these lugs are shown as removably secured to the said pan-O. These lugs overlap the top edges of the ring B when the said ring is in position within the pan.

The ring B is provided upon its upper edge with a projection 19 through which a locking gravity-pin b is permitted to have a limited vertical sliding movement, the said pin nor mally dropping below the under face of the projection 17 The projection 19 may be extended for a considerable distance around the top edge of the ring 13, as shown at b*, if

so desired. The edge of the ring opposite the gravity-pin b is inserted within the pan beneath one of the overlapping lugs 0 the pin in this position resting upon the inclined face a of the opposite overlappinglug 0 A slight twisting movement of the ring D will cause the pin 11 to travel along down the inclined face of the said lug until it is finally released from the said lug, when the pin will drop to the limit of its downward movement and thereby automatically look the ring against a reverse twisting movement. This forward twistingmovement of the ring serves to bring a portion of its upper edge opposite the portion which was first inserted under the lug c and also under the lug 0 thereby locking the ring firmly within the pan 0 until the pin 19 be raised by hand to permit a reverse twisting movement of the rin The top of the upright D is reduced, as shown at d, thereby forming a shoulder d, upon which the hollow cylindrical lug c of the pan 0 rests when the reduced portion d is inserted within the said lug. The reduced portion d is provided with an exterior circumferential groove 61 within which is adapted to travel the inwardly-extended end of a screw 0 passing through the wall of the cylindrical log 0 The pan C is thus mounted to rotate upon the post D, and yet held against unintentional removal therefrom. WVhen it is desired to lock the pan 0 to the upright D, the screw 0 may be screwed inward ly, causing it to impinge against the reduced portion of the said upright.

The upright D and the base E are rigid with respect to each other, and if so desired may be formed integral. The base E is provided with a plurality of casters 8, (in the present instance provision is made for four of such casters,) which casters 6 are swiveled so that they may trail in any direction which the supporting-stand may be caused to be moved. These casters 6 projecta slight distance below the bottom of the base E, so that the stand may be moved easily from place to place as may be desired.

The mechanism which I have represented for moving the stand from place to place, either by pushing or by pulling it, as may be desired, is as follows: A handle H is provided with three bearings h h 72 for engaging the stand at or near its base. In the present instance the projeotions which the handle engages are represented as a pair of ears I, which project outwardly from the lower portion of the upright D upon opposite sides of the same. These ears I are provided with eyes 1? and with upwardly-extended lugs i. The bearings h h 712 of the handle H are represented herein as being formed in a suitable head H, from which the shank 77. projects, the said shank being of sufficient length to enable it to be grasped by the person when the head is engaged with one of the ears I. The head H is of hook form, the bearing it being of concave form along the outer end of the hook, the said bearing being adapted to engage the curved body of the upright D when the head is engaged with one of the ears I. This bearin g his adapted to be used when it is desired to push the stand. The bearing 71 is located upon the interior of the hook of the head H opposite the bearing h, the said bearing h being adapted to engage the ear I for use in drawing or pulling the stand. The bearing 71 consists of a suitable recess formed in the side of the head H, and it is adapted to receive one of the lugs 1" upon the ears for serving the double function for supporting the handle H when it is not in use and also serving to retain the bearings h 71' in their position within the eye 1' in the ear. By this means the stand may be moved or turned easily for shifting it from place to place.

The base-plate F is of circular form and is provided with a circumferential flange f, within which the periphery of the base E is adapted to fit when the stand is engaged with the said base-plate. This flangef is cut away, as shown at f f f, upon one side of the baseplate for permitting the casters 6 to pass through when the stand is rolled up into position upon the base-plate or is removed therefrom. The base-plate is provided with suitably outwardly-extending guide-flanges f f located upon opposite sides of the cut away portions f f for guiding the casters 6 surely through the said cut-away portions. The interior of the base-plate F is open, as shown at f, and tracks f f extend from the cut-away portions f f respectively, for guiding the casters 6, which pass through the said cut-away portions downwardly into the open space f within the base-plate for looking the supporting-stand against unintentional removal therefrom, thereby forming a stationary support. The front and rear casters e as the stand is being guided into position upon the base-plate will pass through the cutaway portion f, while the two side casters will be caused to pass through the cutaway portion f f The base-plate F may be secured permanently to the floor or ground, if so desired, or it may simply rest upon the same, its weight being sufficient to prevent its slipping or twisting under all ordinary circumstances.

It is evident that slight changes might be resorted to in the construction and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. Hence I do not wish to limit myself strictly to the structure herein set forth; but

What I claim isl. A flower-pot support comprising a suitable base, an upright, a pan or cup carried by the upright, a flange or ring seated within the cup or pan, means for removably securing the ring to the pan, means for removably securing the flower-pot to the ring, substantially as set forth.

IIC

2. A flower-pot support comprising a suitable base, an upright, a supporting pan or cup mounted to rotate upon said upright, a ring or flange seated within said cup removably secured thereto and means for removably securing the flower-pot to the said ring, substantially as set forth.

3. A flower-pot support comprising a suitable base, an upright, a pan or cup carried thereby, a ring fitted to lie Within the cup or pan and means for removably securing the ring to the pan comprising a,lug carried by the pan and a gravity-pin carried by the ring in position to engage the said lug, substantially as set forth.

4. In a flower-pot support a suitable cup or pan, a flower-pot-supporting ring, means for removably securing the ring to the pan comprising lugs upon the pan diametrically opposite each other and overlapping the said ring, one of said lugs having an inclined face, and a lug upon the ring having a verticallyslidingpin therein, the said pin being in position to travel along down the incline upon the lug on the pan and drop when released therefrom as the ring is twisted in one direction whereby the ring is prevented from being twisted in the opposite direction until the pin is raised, substantially as set forth.

5. A flower-pot support comprising a suitable base, an upright, a supporting pan or cup carried thereby, a ring fitted to seat within the said cup and means for rem ovably securing the ring Within the cup comprising lugs overlapping the said ring, one of said lugs having an inclined face and a gravitypin carried by the ring in position to travel along down the said incline-faced lug when the ring is twisted in one direction, the engagement of the lug with the pin preventing the unintentional reverse movement of the ring, substantially as set forth.

6. In a flower-pot-supporting stand, a ring or flange and a device for removably securing the pot to the ring or flange comprising a key adapted to enter the interior of the pot through its bottom opening and overlap the edges of the same and a screw passing through the said ring or flange and having a screwthreaded engagement with the said key, substantially as set forth.

7. In a flowerpot-supporting stand, a suitable upright having a reduced top, said reduced top having an exterior circumferential groove therein, and a pan or cup having a hollow cylindrical lug fitted to said reduced top, the said lug being provided with'an inwardly-extended screw adapted to engage the said circumferential groove for rotatably mounting the cup upon the upright and also securing it against unintentional removal, substantially as set forth.

8. A flower-pot support comprising a suitable base, upright and pan or cup, and a baseplate engaging the base for securing it against unintentional movement to form a permanent stand, substantially as set forth.

. 9. The combination with the base of a supporting-stand having casters, of a stationary base-plate having a flange adapted to engage the base to prevent its unintentional movement, the said flange having cut-away portions for the passage therethrough of the casters of the base as the stand is removed from or is caused to enter the base-plate, substantially as set forth.

10. The combination with the base of a support having casters upon which the base runs, of a stationarybase-plate having an open center, a flange adapted to engage the base for securing it against movement upon the baseplate, the said base-plate being provided with tracks and cutaway portions through the flange for directing the casters into and out of the base-plate, substantially as set forth.

11. The combination with the base of a supporting-stand having casters thereon, of a base-plate having a flange adapted to engage the periphery of the base when it is in position upon the base-plate, the said flange being provided with cut-away portions for permitting the casters to pass into and out of engagement with the base-plate and outwardlyextended guide-flanges located in proximity to the said cut-away portions for guiding the said casters positively onto the base -plate, substantially as set forth.

12. The combination with a flower-pot-supporting stand, of a handle formoving the said stand, the said handle having three bearings for engaging the stand, the one bearing being adapted for use in pushing the stand, the second bearing beingadapted for use in dra ging or pulling the stand and the third bearing being adapted to support the handle in its operative position, substantially as set forth. 7

13. The combination with the base and upright of a flower-pot-supporting stand, of an ear located at or near the base, the said car being provided with a suitable eye and an upwardly-extending projection for use in connection with an operating-handle for moving the said stand, substantially as set forth.

WILMER D. GRIDLEY.

WVitnesses:

FREDK. HAYNES, C. S. SUNDGREN. 

